The Joy of Six: Hujialou

This month, we’ve checked out all the stops on Line 6 to tell you about the gems that you shouldn’t wait to discover in our station-by-station Going Underground special.

SELLING POINT
Until now, Hujialou has been best known for Tuanjiehu Park and the young
contortionists of the Chaoyang Theater, but two new high-end hotels are set to
class up the neighborhood. The Conrad Beijing at Baijiazhuang (400m north
of the intersection) opens in April, while the Rosewood Beijing is slated for
an autumn opening (Exit D).

SAVE
If you’re scrimping now so as to indulge in hotel champagne brunches and
luxury spa treatments later, pad out your wardrobe at the 3501 Army Supplies
Store at the northwest corner of the intersection. Then lace up your new
camo-green sneakers and cut through the park to Tianyu Wholesale Market,
where the goods range from glittery nail polish and iPhone cases to handsaws
and portable closets. You’ll be snapping up bargains left and right.

SAVOR
Where to eat? Options range from the palatial Shash to tiny Menya Tsubame.
The former looks like the five-star fortress of an Uzbek baron, with chandeliers
and belly dancers that outshine the food; the latter is like your Tokyo friend’s
sleek dining room, where the world narrows to a single savory bowl of noodles.
Another option, at Vantone Center, is the underrated Madam Zhu’s Kitchen,
which resembles a museum cafe with its open layout, framed wall art and green
plants. Diners recommend the chicken drenched in scallion oil, the green-tea
puffs that resemble marshmallows and the ultra-subtle tofu ice cream.

SLAKE
Back to Chaoyang Theater. Let’s say you did watch one of those acrobatics
shows, and now you want to erase from your mind the image of those unnaturally
limber limbs. You’re in luck: Ichikura and Lagoon, two highly regarded
Japanese whiskey bars, are located just around the corner. Bottoms up!

This article originally appeared on page 16 in the February issue of the Beijinger.

Photo: Lova